State Government moves on gambling inducements
Source: WA. Minister for Sport and Recreation; Racing and Gaming.
"Gambling operators will not be able to offer free bets to Western Australian punters under legislation proposed by the State Government.
Racing and Gaming Minister Terry Waldron said today that with the lifting of advertising restrictions across Australia in recent times, many of the larger wagering operators had been offering financial inducements, in the form of free bets, in return for punters opening wagering accounts."

Draft State Ambient Air Policy released for public consultation
Source: WA. Dept of the Environment
"Environment Minister Donna Faragher has released a draft State Environmental (Ambient Air) Policy. The Policy along with an explanatory document has been developed by the Environmental Protection Authority which sets out how Western Australia will implement the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure. The Ambient Air Quality NEPM sets uniform standards against which ambient air quality can be assessed nationally. Leading from this the State Environmental (Ambient Air) Policy provides a management framework for WA’s air quality."

State Government funds new desalination research
Source: WA. Minister for Science and Innovation
"Science and Innovation Minister Troy Buswell today (15.06.2009)announced up to $5million would be committed to Murdoch University for research into desalination technologies. Mr Buswell congratulated the university on recently securing $20million over five years from the Federal Government to set up a National Centre of Excellence in Desalination at its Rockingham Campus to research and commercialise desalination technologies."

Minister flags nation’s toughest anti-hoon laws
Source: WA. Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Road Safety
"Western Australia will soon have the nation’s toughest anti-hoon laws after Police and Road Safety Minister Rob Johnson today announced he would introduce new legislation to Parliament this week.Mr Johnson said the Road Traffic Amendment (Hoons) Bill 2009 would increase the period a vehicle was impounded from seven days to 28 for a first hoon offence and from 28 days to three months for a second offence.
The Minister said on a third and subsequent offence, a vehicle would be confiscated and proceeds from its sale would go to road safety projects. Vehicles of little value would be crushed."

Digital Marketing Boost for Tasmanian Tourism
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Tourism
"The Minister for Tourism, Michelle O’Byrne, today (11.6.09) announced that the State Government would provide $1.5 million for a range of tourism initiatives to boost the marketing of Tasmania and its tourism experiences in the domestic and global market place."

Former ACCC Commissioner to review supermarket policy
Source: ACT. Chief Minister
"The Canberra community is well served by a diverse fresh food and grocery sector that does strive to provide choice, convenience and value for money to Canberrans. However, it is a fast paced industry and there is a need to have adaptive policy and the best information and advice available, and that is the reason for the review and the appointment of Mr Martin and the expertise he will bring."

Minister includes non-government schools in Shaddock Review
Source: ACT. Minister for Education and Training
"Professor Shaddock is examining national and international leading practice in curriculum and teaching for students with disabilities. He is also providing advice on future options for special education services. "

NSW Schools To Play Key Role In Ties With Asia
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Education. Media Release.
"The Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth today announced that from next year, four NSW public schools will offer their students a bi-lingual education. The new bi-lingual program is included in the 2009-10 NSW budget through a commitment of $2.25 million over four years."

New powers for fire fighters
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"New powers to help investigate bush fires and reduce fire hazards were announced by the NSW Premier Nathan Rees. In the wake of the Victorian tragedy, NSW has reviewed current legislation to see what our fire fighters need to fight fires."

Premier announces historic public sector reform
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees announced the biggest structural reform to the NSW public sector in more than 30 years – creating 13 super departments from the 160 current state agencies.Mr Rees said the reforms are aimed squarely at delivering better services for the people of NSW."

NSW Government launches a review of public holidays
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Industrial Relations. Media Release.
"NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Hatzistergos, has announced a comprehensive review of public holidays which aims to provide more certainty for businesses and workers and avoid the confusion of the past. Mr Hatzistergos said that the intention of the review was not to increase or decrease the number of public holidays but to simplify and modernise the gazettal process."

Grieving families given more say in Coronial matters
Source: New South Wales. Attorney General. Media Release.
"Grieving families will no longer have to wait for the outcome of lengthy Coronial proceedings when the cause of their loved one’s death is apparent, under new laws introduced. Specifically, the new Act will free up coroners to focus on necessary investigations promptly and professionally, while maintaining the dignity of the deceased."

New generation of ambulances to treat patients in their own homes
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"NSW Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, announced today the State Government had rolled out a new generation of ambulance on the Central Coast to treat patients in their own homes and alleviate the pressure on local Emergency Departments."

Anaphylaxis Schools Education Program
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"The NSW Government has launched a three-year schools education program aimed at training teachers and students in the prevention, management and treatment of anaphylaxis."

Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Traineeship Program
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"NSW Minister for Health, John Della Bosca, has today allocated almost one million dollars over three years, to deliver a state-wide Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Traineeships program in the non-government sector."

New guide for commercial property improves skills and the environment
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Environment and Climate Change. Media Release.
"The Sustainable Property Guide contains comprehensive step-by-step guidance, checklists and
worksheets to integrate sustainability into property portfolios. Ms Tebbutt said the practical on-line resource would help commercial building owners, managing agents and building managers gain the knowledge and skills to minimise the impact of commercial buildings on the environment."

Carbon Risk Management Program announced for business leaders
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Climate Change and the Environment. Media Release.
"Carmel Tebbutt today announced the NSW Government was partnering the University of NSW on a new program to teach business leaders to capitalise on Australia’s new low carbon economy.
The two-day Carbon Risk Management Program will be offered by the University’s Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) Executive Programs as part of its School of Business."

Qld provides in-principle support for National IR reforms in the private sector
Source: Queensland. Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations. Media Release
"Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick has announced the Queensland Government’s in-principle support for a seamless national industrial relations system for the private sector. Mr Dick told this morning’s Workplace Relations Ministers Council meeting in Sydney that Queensland’s participation in a national industrial relations system was contingent on a number of conditions being met to ensure the state’s workers continue to get a fair deal."

$83M FUND TO SUPPORT INNOVATION OPENS
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media Release
"The Rudd Government’s $83 million Innovation Investment Follow-On Fund opened for applications today.
Announcing the opening, Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, encouraged eligible fund managers to apply for funding.
“The fund is a temporary, targeted response to address a lack of capital available to the most promising young innovative companies during the global recession,” Senator Carr said. "

Strategy for Australia's National Reserve System 2009-2030
Source: Australia. Dept of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
"The next 20 years will be a critical period for biodiversity conservation in Australia.
The release of the National Reserve System Strategy 2009-2030 is an important step towards long-term protection of Australia's biodiversity.
The strategy will fully guide the work on the National Reserve System in the years ahead."

P21 to deliver $1.2 billion to 702 Queensland schools to support jobs
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media release
"The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today announced at Guardian Angels’ Primary School that 702 primary schools in Queensland will receive $1.2 billion for building major infrastructure projects under Round Two of Primary Schools for the 21st Century (P21)."

Renewing Queensland: Future investment Plan
Source: Queensland. Premier and Minister for the Arts. Media Release
"The Bligh Government will undertake a wide-ranging and responsible sale of government-owned assets as Queensland continues to bear the brunt of the global economic crisis.
Premier Anna Bligh today outlined the assets which would be sold over the next three to five years as the government works through the economic meltdown which has punched a $14 billion hole in government revenue."

Bligh Government Legislates to Heal Great Barrier Reef
Source: Queensland. Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability. Media Release
"Strict controls on fertilisers and pesticides and close monitoring of large and high-risk farms in north Queensland will help heal the Great Barrier Reef, Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said. Ms Jones, introducing the Great Barrier Reef Protection Bill 2009 to State Parliament, said the legislation would reduce the levels of farm chemicals and sediment harming the Reef. "

New Local Government Act means stronger local
Source: Queensland. Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. Media Release
"Local Government, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Desley Boyle said the new Local Government Act 2009 gives Queensland a robust, modern framework to guide councils into the future. Ms Boyle said the new legislation, passed by Parliament, replaces an Act which had reached its use-by date, considered by many to be overly prescriptive, repetitive and difficult for councils and ratepayers to navigate. This new legislation delivers. It provides councils with the flexibility to make choices suiting their individual size, location and administrative circumstances and it has the checks and balances in place to improve transparency and accountability. "

Volunteer program harnesses people power for environment
Source: Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade. Media Release
"Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson has launched a volunteer program aimed at harnessing people power for environmental projects across the state. Green Nomads is a new casual environmental volunteering placement program targeting the resources and skills of Australia’s largest transient population, grey nomads. Mr Robertson said the initiative would have many benefits with volunteers working to care for the environment, while also building ties with follow workers and the communities they assist. “This is an avenue for people who may have some spare time on their hands to assist in the protection and conservation of our unique natural resources,” he said."